First aid algorithm for arterial bleeding. The correct algorithm of actions to stop arterial bleeding. Manifestations of bleeding from arteries

Blood provides organs and tissues with necessary nutrients, protects them from foreign agents, and removes metabolic end products. The stability of its transport activity contributes to the coordinated functioning of all body systems. When the integrity of the vascular bed is violated and bleeding occurs, disruptions in the functioning of organs appear. Massive blood loss (more than 50% of blood volume) creates a serious danger to human life and health, so it is necessary to know the basics of first aid in this situation.

Blood loss occurs as a result of the damaging effects on the vascular system of various factors: injuries, diseases of internal organs, disorders of coagulation processes. As a result, bleeding of varying severity occurs. The choice of method of assistance directly depends on the type of blood loss.

Depending on the area of ​​bleeding, it can be:

• external- blood flows from the vascular bed into the external environment. Its outpouring occurs on the surface of the skin from wounds, which are of various types, based on the damaging factor: cut, torn, punctured, bruised, chopped, gunshot, bitten, crushed;
• internal- when blood is shed inside the body. The causes of its appearance are blows, diseases of internal organs (parenchymal bleeding), puncture and gunshot wounds, fractures, falls. It can have an obvious and hidden form.

The first option is characterized by bloody discharge from natural orifices: ears, nose, vagina, anus, mouth, urethra. In the latent form, blood accumulates in a certain cavity (abdominal, pelvic, pleural).

Depending on the type of damaged vessel, bleeding is classified:

• capillary- appears as a result of a superficial wound, deep tissues are not affected, the blood is bright red in color. Blood loss in this case is small, there is a danger of infection entering the affected area;
• venous– Occurs with deeper damage. Blood loss can be quite profuse, especially when a large vein is injured. This condition can pose a fatal risk. The outpouring of blood occurs at a measured pace, continuously, without gushing;
• arterial– the most dangerous type of bleeding, especially when large arteries are injured. Blood loss develops at a rapid pace, often massive, which poses a mortal danger. The release of scarlet-colored blood occurs in pulsating impulses (gushing), since it is under high pressure in the vessel, moving in the direction from the heart;
• mixed– characteristic of a deep wound, appears when blood loss of various types is combined.

Symptoms

To determine the necessary measures to help the victim, sometimes it is necessary to know the clinical manifestations of blood loss. At outdoor form of bleeding, diagnosis does not cause difficulties. Pallor, dizziness, fainting, a feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth are observed, blood pressure decreases, the pulse quickens, but its filling is weak, difficulty breathing, and a state of shock may be present.

At internal In cases of blood loss, assessment of symptoms is important to confirm the presence of bleeding. In this case, the same symptoms are present as in the external form. However, hemoptysis, respiratory failure (with pulmonary hemorrhage), a painful, hard abdomen, coffee-colored vomiting, and melena (with blood loss in the abdominal cavity) may additionally be added. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply, leading to shock and cardiac arrest.

First aid for bleeding

If a situation arises that threatens a person’s life, in particular with blood loss, you need to know the basics and some of the nuances of providing first aid. This will save precious minutes until doctors arrive and will help preserve the person’s health and life.

The table shows general methods for stopping and reducing blood loss for various types of bleeding.

To put these methods of stopping and reducing blood loss into practice, you need to know their detailed technique, take into account some of the nuances and possible consequences.

For capillary bleeding

For minor damage, a simple sterile bandage made from a bandage or napkin is often sufficient. The wound must be washed and the edges treated with an antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green, alcohol). A pressure bandage may be used if blood continues to ooze. In this case, a sterile napkin with an antiseptic is placed on the wound, tightly bandaged, a cotton swab is placed on top and again tightly secured with a bandage.

For venous bleeding

With this type of blood loss, the use of a pressure bandage is most justified. Its purpose is to accelerate thrombosis of the vessel; often this is enough to stop blood loss. If it is soaked in blood, there is no need to change it; you need to put an additional bandage on top.

ATTENTION! If you do not have the means to make a bandage, you can apply pressure to the wound with your fingers or palm.

Elevating the limb helps reduce or stop blood loss.

The mortal danger of such bleeding may lie in the possible occurrence of an air embolism, due to the absorption of air bubbles through damage in the venous bed and their entry into the heart.

ATTENTION! It is forbidden to remove blood clots from a wound, as this can cause massive blood loss!

For arterial bleeding

With this type of blood loss, every minute is valuable, so the priority technique is to clamp the artery, usually the brachial or femoral one. This is done above the injury site with significant force. Pressing is carried out with a finger or palm, fist (in case of damage to large vessels). This method is designed for a short period of time, since it requires a lot of effort, but it makes it possible to prepare a tourniquet and seek medical help during this period.

ATTENTION! If, when pressing the artery for ten minutes, blood loss does not stop, you should take a break for a few seconds to avoid the formation of a blood clot in the vascular bed!

Flexing the limbs can help stop blood loss. If the popliteal artery is damaged, it is necessary to bend the leg at the knee joint until it stops; if the femoral artery is damaged, bring the thigh as close as possible to the stomach. The subclavian artery is compressed using arms bent at the elbows, placed behind the back and securely fixed. When the brachial artery is injured, the arm is bent all the way at the elbow joint.

The use of a tourniquet is advisable in extreme situations, when other methods are unsuccessful, since its prolonged use leads to nerve atrophy and tissue necrosis. The tourniquet is stretched and wrapped several times around the leg or arm above the affected area like a bandage, the first wrap (tour) is the tightest and needs to be secured, subsequent rounds (3-4) are weaker. It is applied exclusively to clothing or any available material to avoid pinching the tissue. You can make a tourniquet yourself from rope, belt, twisted fabric (twist). In this case, the arm or leg is tightly bandaged, a stick or other similar objects (pen, spoon) are inserted into the knot, secured with an additional knot and wrapped several times until the blood loss stops. The correct use of the tourniquet is determined by the pronounced pallor of the limb and the absence of a pulse. It is necessary to indicate the time of application of the tourniquet.

IMPORTANT! The time of its exposure should not exceed two hours in the summer and half an hour in the winter (for children - no more than fifty minutes). If there is a delay, the tourniquet is loosened for a quarter of an hour, using the method of pressing the vessel, then applied again slightly above or below the original location.

For internal bleeding

The main thing in this condition is to completely immobilize the patient, giving him a certain position:

• in case of blood loss in the chest, in the stomach area, or in case of miscarriage, the patient takes a semi-sitting position;
• if the abdominal cavity or pelvic organs are affected, the legs are given an elevated position;
• for traumatic brain injury, a position with the head slightly elevated is used.

It is forbidden to feed, water, or anesthetize the patient; cold is applied to the affected area; the victim must be covered.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to monitor the person’s condition and be prepared to carry out resuscitation measures! Transportation is carried out in a sitting position!

First aid in special cases

In some cases of bleeding, a special approach to first aid is required, following certain rules.

1. It is forbidden to remove anything from the wound yourself, be it glass, sand, or a protruding object. This is done exclusively by a doctor. If there is a protruding object (or part of a bone), it is recommended to apply a bandage near it. Self-removal may cause increased blood loss.

   

2. When bleeding from the nose, cold is applied to this area, the head is slightly moved forward. If after a quarter of an hour the blood loss has not stopped, this is a reason to seek medical help.

   

3. If there is ear bleeding, you should inspect for superficial wounds that can be treated with an antiseptic. If there are no injuries, you should urgently seek medical help; this may be a symptom of a basal skull fracture.

   

4. In case of damage to the peritoneum (penetrating), assistance is provided in the same way as for internal blood loss. If there are prolapsed internal organs, they are placed in a bag and bandaged or glued with a plaster. The intestines must be constantly moisturized.

   

5. In case of traumatic amputation, together with measures to stop blood loss, the amputated limb must be placed in a bag, then in another with cold water or ice. At the same time, you need to keep it suspended.

   

If serious bleeding occurs, seek medical attention immediately. The danger of blood loss is that the deterioration of the condition increases sharply and without the provision of high-quality first aid, the prognosis in most cases is disappointing. Correct and prompt application of methods to stop bleeding can preserve the health and life of the injured person.

To provide assistance, it is important to know in which bleeding the blood coming from the wound flows like a fountain, and in which it flows out in a continuous stream.

The most dangerous bleeding occurs when arteries are injured. This is due to the fact that in these vessels blood flows with a certain pressure and if the wall is damaged, the bleeding takes the form of a gushing stream. Blood loss increases rapidly and, if first aid is not provided, the victim may develop hemorrhagic shock. Pre-medical measures to stop bleeding are very simple and no less effective. In order not to get confused in an emergency, the article presents first aid for arterial bleeding, broken down point by point to make it easier to remember.

Blood in arteries and blood in veins move in opposite directions. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the periphery. The veins collect blood rich in carbon dioxide from the periphery and carry it back to the heart.

Stopping bleeding is achieved by pressing the damaged vessel in such a way as to block the flow of blood out. Therefore, before providing emergency care, you should start by assessing the appearance of bleeding:

• If, when injured, blood flows in a continuous stream, this is venous bleeding. When a vein is damaged, the blood has a dark red appearance and flows out smoothly.
• If the blood flows in a pulsating stream and has a bright scarlet color, then this is arterial bleeding.

The blood does not always flow like a fountain, since a person may have low blood pressure, but the pulsation will be visible in any case.

After determining the type of damaged vessel, it becomes clear where to apply the tourniquet, above or below the site of injury.

In case of arterial bleeding, a tourniquet should be applied above the injury site to stop the flow of blood from the heart to the limb.

With venous, the direction of flow goes from the extremities to the heart, so it is necessary to compress the vessels below the wound site towards the limb, since it simply does not make sense to compress the vessels above the injury.

Important to remember! An error in diagnosing a damaged vessel can cost a life.

First aid

First aid can be provided by a person without medical education. Most bleeding develops as a result of household injuries, so it is important to know how to stop bleeding from an artery using improvised means.

Action	Description
	If there is bleeding, you should immediately call an ambulance. The dispatcher must be informed of the location of the injury and describe the severity of the bleeding. Be sure to focus on whether the victim is conscious or not.
	If the blood spurts out, then in parallel with calling an ambulance, you need to stop the bleeding with finger pressure. This method is quite simple if you know where to press the damaged artery. The disadvantage is that the bleeding may slow down but not stop. And it’s quite difficult to press the artery for a long time.
	After heavy bleeding has stopped, you can find improvised means to replace finger pressure with a more convenient way to temporarily stop the bleeding.

Finger pressure points

Emergency assistance in the form of finger pressure is provided for massive bleeding from one artery. In order to carry out this type of first aid, you need to know which vessel goes where and where to press it.

Points 1-7 for pressing the vessels in the upper body. To effectively stop bleeding, you need to make efforts to press the vessel to the bone.

1. The temporal artery passes through the temple and descends in front of the auricle. It is easy to press it to the bones of the skull anterior to the opening of the ear canal.
2. The maxillary artery runs along the edge of the lower jaw; it should be pressed closer to the chin.
3. The external carotid artery is located on the side of the neck. The bleeding from it is very serious. You can press it below the site of injury to the 7th cervical vertebra.
4. The subclavian artery must be pressed above the collarbone, at the junction of the clavicle and sternum.
5. Axillary artery - passes in the axillary fossa, where it is pressed with a fist to the humerus and the arm is brought as close to the body as possible.
6. The brachial artery runs along the inner surface of the biceps; we press it against the humerus above the site of injury.
7. The radial artery runs along the forearm above the radius bone - this is the bone on the side of the thumb. The artery should be pressed against the bone above the injury site.
8. The ulnar artery corresponds to the ulna - the bone on the side of the little finger. We press the damaged vessel to the bone of the forearm.
9. The femoral artery is a large vessel. Damage to it is no less dangerous than injury to the carotid artery. In case of injury in the upper and lower part of the thigh, the vessel is pressed with a fist to the femur slightly above the site of injury.
10. The tibial artery is pressed behind the ankle on the inside.

Points 8 -10 for pressing large vessels in the lower part of the body require great strength

Temporarily stopping bleeding using improvised means

Ways to help with arterial bleeding include stopping the blood using household items - a belt, a cloth twist. The emergency care scheme is presented in the table.

Action	Description
	It is necessary to raise the injured limb to an elevated position. Lifting the limb leads to a physiological slowdown in blood flow. Also, in this position, venous blood flows away from the arm, which will reduce swelling of the limb from compression.
	Above the bleeding site, the limb should be wrapped in a clean cloth. When a tourniquet is applied to bare skin, superficial vessels and nerves are compressed, while deep arteries, damage to which caused bleeding, remain uncompressed. Therefore, the tourniquet must be applied to fabric or clothing.
	General rules for applying a tourniquet from scrap materials: · apply higher at a distance of 2-3 cm from the wound if the shoulder or hip is injured. · If the injury is on the forearm or lower leg, then the tourniquet is applied higher to one joint, that is, on the shoulder or thigh, respectively. · The tourniquet is applied higher or lower in relation to the middle third of the shoulder, since compression of the nerve occurs in this place. · Do not use wire or cable as this may cause soft tissue rupture.
	Belt harness. If there is a belt, wrap it several times and tighten it tightly.
	We take a strip of fabric or bandage, tie it at the ends and put it on the injured limb. We insert a stick between the hand and the fabric ring and begin to twist the fabric into a rope. When the twist compresses the limb tightly enough, we secure the stick with a cloth or bandage.
	A medical tourniquet is applied in the form of several tours around the limb, which do not overlap each other.
	Under the means to stop bleeding, you need to put a note with the time of their application. As a last resort, you can write this time in a visible place on the victim, for example on the forehead.
	Treating the edges of the wound and applying a bandage. If there is an antiseptic - iodine or peroxide, then we treat the edges of the wound and put a bandage on top and fix it tightly.

Alternative methods

In some cases, you can use other options to stop arterial bleeding:

1. A pressure bandage is used for mild damage to the artery, when blood does not flow out like a fountain, but smoothly and in small quantities. In this case, several folded sterile bandage napkins are applied to the wound, which are tightly bandaged on top. In this condition, the patient can be taken to the emergency room independently.
2. Maximum flexion of the limb is performed with mild bleeding. It is carried out in the elbow, knee and hip joints. In this case, a thick roller is placed at the bend.

The bent limb must be fixed.

Important! If the victim has a lacerated wound of the limb and heavy bleeding, then a tourniquet is applied above the injury site and a pressure bandage is applied to the injury site itself.

The video in this article shows ways to help with bleeding.

What's next?

Medical care is provided by a paramedic, emergency physician or traumatologist in an emergency room. All patients with arterial bleeding undergo definitive bleeding control. Depending on what kind of assistance is provided at the pre-medical stage in case of damage to large arteries, further treatment tactics will be developed.

It is difficult to predict what the consequences of bleeding from a large artery will be, since it depends on the size of the damage, the degree of blood loss and the somatic status of the victim.

Arterial bleeding has fundamental characteristics and differences from venous bleeding. Everyone should know these features, since the rules for providing assistance for different types of blood loss are diametrically opposed.

The materials are published for informational purposes only and are not a prescription for treatment! We recommend that you consult a hematologist at your medical institution!

Arterial bleeding is deadly if first aid is not provided in a timely manner. Many, finding themselves in such a situation, simply do not know how to help. Let's consider the subtleties of first aid and applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding.

Arterial bleeding is the process of blood spurting out from an injured area. Its danger lies in the fact that it is always abundant and, if first aid is not provided in the first minutes, leads to the death of a person. Let's figure out what characterizes arterial bleeding, how to provide first aid and apply a tourniquet to stop it.

What is arterial bleeding?

Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the heart and deliver it to all organs and tissues of the human body. They are active pathways for blood flow and are located close to the bones. An artery injury is a serious injury.

Signs of arterial bleeding are as follows:

• blood is sprayed out in pulsating impulses and is characterized by a coincidence of frequency and rhythm with the heart;
• bright scarlet or red color of blood;
• blood loss is profuse and rapid.

Causes of arterial bleeding

The main arteries of the human body: 1 - carotid, 2 - subclavian, 3 - axillary, 4 - femoral, 5 - brachial

Arterial bleeding occurs due to:

• traumatic injuries: thermal or mechanical;
• the presence of vascular diseases and tumors;
• existing blood clotting diseases, as well as liver diseases;
• general diseases, including: diabetes, infectious diseases, lack of vitamins and others;
• the presence of organ damage due to exposure to other diseases.

Subtleties of stopping arterial bleeding

Everyone should know the stopping rules. Since one of the signs of arterial bleeding is rapid blood loss, a person requires emergency assistance from the first two to three minutes in case of injury to medium and small vessels and one or two in case of damage to large ones.

First aid

As previously said, first aid for arterial bleeding should be provided immediately, but even in an emergency, you should remember some rules.

Video: Methods to stop arterial bleeding

Algorithm of actions:

1. Finger pressure of the arteries during bleeding is performed as the first step in providing assistance to the victim.

In this case, you need to take into account:

• the carotid artery must be pressed against the vertebrae of the cervical spine. Pressure is applied at the location of the inner edge of the cleidomastoid muscle; the best option would be to select its central part;
• in case of injuries to the external jaw, it should be pressed to the frontal zone of the masticatory muscle;
• the temporal one needs to be squeezed with your fingers in front of the upper area of ​​the auricle;
• if the left one is damaged, or it should be pressed to the posterior region of the outer edge of the clavicle area in the area of ​​the sternocleidomastoid muscle to the very first of the ribs;
• the brachial artery must be compressed along the inner zone of the biceps muscle to the bone located in this zone;
• the femoral artery must be pressed against the bone in the pubic area in the area of ​​the Pupart ligament. If the person is thin, then you can press it to the thigh;
• The popliteal artery must be pressed strictly in the middle of the depression under the knee.

Important! The sooner first aid is provided, the greater the chance of survival for the injured person. Timely assistance will reduce the level of blood loss .

1. After arterial bleeding has been stopped as an emergency, a tourniquet should be applied. In case of injury to large vessels, a rubber tourniquet should be used. If the bleeding is minor, you can use a roller or bandage. In an emergency, the tourniquet is replaced with a belt or scarf, as well as thick rope and other means at hand for making a pressure bandage. The wound should be covered with a sterile bandage or cloth to prevent infection. If there is no fracture of the limb, it should be bent and then fixed in this position. Applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding is a mandatory measure. This is not easy to do.

Rules for applying a tourniquet:

• Initially, gauze or cloth is applied to the damaged area;
• the injured limb needs to be elevated;
• The tourniquet must be stretched a little and then made two or three turns around the limb.

Important! The tourniquet is applied quite tightly, but it must not be pressed on the limb, since if the blood supply is completely disrupted, this will lead to tissue death. In cold weather, you should wrap the area where the tourniquet is applied and the injured limb with warm clothes. .

• Next you need to tie the ends and secure them using a hook or chain.

Important! A tourniquet is applied above the wound at a distance of two to three centimeters. It should be left for no more than one hour. After this, you need to loosen it and then tighten it again. It is best to write down the application and release times, as this information will be useful to medical personnel .

Complications due to arterial bleeding

If help is not provided in a timely manner, the person may bleed and die. Due to the rapid loss of blood, the body does not have time to activate protective mechanisms, which leads to the fact that the heart does not receive enough blood and, as a result, blood circulation stops.

In a person’s life, non-standard and extreme situations often occur that require urgent intervention. These include accidents, catastrophes, and injuries in which there is a need for first aid for bleeding. Blood loss is a key link in the chain of triggering a terminal condition, so it must be urgently interrupted in order to save a person’s life.

Before considering the first aid algorithm, you need to familiarize yourself with the types of bleeding. The classification is based on the type of vessel damaged. The rate of blood loss depends on this, and therefore the speed with which it is necessary to assist the victim in stopping the bleeding.

1. Arterial – characterized by pulsating flow of blood. As it progresses, the pulsation is less noticeable as blood pressure drops rapidly. The flowing blood is scarlet. Much also depends on the diameter of the damaged artery: large - rapid outflow of a large volume and rapid onset of critical condition and death, small - the rate of emptying of the bloodstream is not so rapid, but needs to be stopped immediately.
2. Venous is not as dangerous as arterial, but also leads to loss of life-giving moisture. Blood from the damaged vein flows evenly, without pulsation, and has a darker shade. If he is not stopped, death is inevitable.
3. Capillary - occurs when the skin is damaged at a shallow depth. They look like pinpoint blood impregnation, which merges into a stream of blood. It is dangerous only if there is massive damage to the skin.
4. Parenchymal - bleeding from a parenchymal organ. The danger is that it is not visually detectable and the necessary assistance can only be provided at the stage of hospitalization.
5. Mixed - a combination of several types.

Types of bleeding can also be divided into:

• external – visually identifiable, treats before medical treatment;
• internal - cannot be detected by the eye; medical assistance is required to stop.

If a wound is detected in the victim, his character should be assessed and, if necessary, call an ambulance. You need to try to stop the flow of blood from the wound yourself, thereby gaining time for medical manipulation. You can stop the bleeding using improvised means.

Principles of bleeding control

Temporary stopping of bleeding is carried out in the following ways:

• pressing the damaged vessel with your fingers or fist to the bone formations;
• raise the injured body part as much as possible above the surface;
• maximum flexion or extension of the limb to compress the vessel;
• pressure bandage;
• tourniquet;
• twist;
• clamps on the affected vessel;
• tamponade;
• cold.

To choose a specific method, you need to understand what type of bleeding is in this case.

1. Capillary - pressing the wound surface with available fabric materials: handkerchief, clothing. It is advisable to treat the surface of the wound with hydrogen peroxide - it has a hemostatic effect. If you have a first aid kit at hand, you should apply cotton-gauze pads, apply them to the wound, and bandage them tightly.
2. First aid for venous bleeding requires lifting the wounded part of the body upward, applying a pressure bandage, packing the wound, and exposure to cold. If a large vein is damaged, you need to press the vessel slightly below the wound and apply a tourniquet.
3. Arterial - a tourniquet, twisting, maximum flexion of the limb, maximum pressure with fingers or fist will do. For first aid for bleeding from small arteries, tight tamponade is used.

Using a tourniquet

In order to apply a tourniquet correctly, you should remember a few simple rules:

• The tourniquet should be used only for first aid in case of arterial bleeding from the great vessels, massive bleeding on the limbs;
• the place where the tourniquet is applied is 4-5 cm above the wound;
• do not apply to the feet, hands, middle third of the shoulder, joints;
• the limb is raised;
• place a towel or sleeve under the tourniquet so that it does not come into contact with the skin;
• a stretched tourniquet in 2-3 rounds is applied to the limb and fastened with a hook, the first round with pressing, the other 2 for fixation;
• correct application - the bleeding stopped, the limb turned pale, the pulse disappeared;
• the time of leaving the tourniquet on the limb in winter is 30-40 minutes, in summer – no more than an hour;
• Be sure to leave a note under the tourniquet with the time the tourniquet was applied and the name of the victim;
• if help does not arrive in time, and the tourniquet exposure time is over, then it must be removed by first pressing the artery with a finger, and after 10-15 minutes, repeat the application of the tourniquet;
• the place where the tourniquet is applied should be visible;
• transportation of the victim with a tourniquet is carried out first.

What is a twist

After an incident, you may not have a tourniquet at hand, so you need to build an analogue from a small piece of cloth and a stick. A piece of fabric is placed on a pre-lining above the wound and its ends are tied. The stick is inserted into the resulting hole between the material and the limb and begins to twist.

When hemostasis is achieved, the shelf is fixed to the limb with a bandage. Be sure to include the application time under the bandage. In this case, the same rules apply as for a tourniquet: in summer the exposure time is up to 1 hour, in winter 30-40 minutes.

Tamponade

This first aid method for bleeding is based on tightly filling the wound with gauze, after which it is fixed with a bandage. Suitable for wounds with venous or arterial bleeding from small vessels.

Cold

It is recommended to use cold when bleeding, as it will create a local vasospasm, which will help the blood clot to linger at the site of the lesion. It will not have a significant effect on bleeding from the abdominal aorta or carotid artery, but can stop capillary and minor venous bleeding.

Stopping bleeding from an artery

First aid for arterial bleeding requires maximum speed of rescuer action. There are features of stopping it depending on the affected artery.

Arteries of the head and neck

First aid for a wound to the head area is provided by finger pressure, tamponade, tight bandaging, and a tourniquet. Points of finger pressure of the main arteries of the head:

1. Temporal artery - compression is applied to the bone of the same name 2 cm upward and anterior to the external passage.
2. Facial - pressed with a finger to the lower jaw 2 cm anterior to its angle.
3. General carotid - press it to the carotid tubercle of the 6th cervical vertebra; it can be found by sliding your finger off the upper edge of the thyroid cartilage.

If the vascular bundle of the neck is affected, a tourniquet can be applied. For this purpose, a Kramer splint, a bar or a raised arm is placed on the healthy side, through which the tourniquet is tensioned. On the wounded side, gauze is applied under the tourniquet, and it is placed below the wound.

Arteries of the upper limbs

pressure point of the brachial artery

Finger pressure on the hand is relevant at the following points:

1. The subclavian attaches behind the collarbone to the first rib.
2. For the axillary artery, compression is applied to the head of the humerus along the anterior edge of the hair growth in the armpit.
3. Brachial - to the inner surface of the shoulder along the inner edge of the biceps brachii muscle.

To stop bleeding in the area of ​​the forearm and hand, the technique of maximum bending of the arm at the elbow is suitable. In this case, a small roller 5-7 cm in diameter made of soft material (towel) is placed on the fold to create greater compression on the damaged vessel.

If you extend your arm at the shoulder joint as much as possible, you can stop the bleeding from the brachial or axillary artery. To do this, you need to place the injured hand behind the patient's head.

The tourniquet is applicable to the forearm, lower third of the shoulder, and armpit. If everything is clear with the first two options, then clamping the axillary artery requires compression with a round, which is directed to the opposite side.

Arteries of the lower limb

Finger pressure to provide first aid in this area is carried out at the following points.

1. To compress the femoral artery, apply pressure to the middle of the Poupart ligament.
2. The popliteal is a place of compression at the top of the popliteal fossa.
3. The abdominal aorta is pressed with a fist in the navel area to the spinal column.

A tourniquet or twist is also relevant on these areas of the body. To stop bleeding in the upper third of the thigh, it is necessary to apply a tourniquet so that one round goes around it just below the upper iliac crests, the second goes around the thigh, the intersection of these rounds should be in the area of ​​the middle of the inguinal ligament.

In first aid, to stop bleeding of the foot and leg, you can resort to maximum flexion of the leg at the knee and hip joints with small rollers 5-7 cm in diameter in the bend area.

Bleeding is a severe traumatic injury. Among all its types, arterial is considered the most dangerous. After all, untimely or incorrectly provided first aid for arterial bleeding can result in unpleasant consequences for the patient, including death.

There is an opinion that only medical workers should have knowledge, as well as practical skills in providing first aid, because this is their direct responsibility. In fact, it is the duty of every person to know and be able to apply basic medical skills in practice. After all, one day it may help save a human life.

In case of arterial bleeding, first aid should be provided immediately. After all, blood is lost at a very high speed, and there is practically no time for thought. In such a situation, a clear algorithm of actions helps, which needs to be worked out until it becomes automatic.

Distinctive signs of arterial bleeding

The classification of bleeding implies its division into three main types:

• arterial,
• venous,
• capillary.

With extensive traumatic injuries, mixed bleeding, for example, venous and arterial, can be observed. In addition, any bleeding, relative to where the blood flows, is divided into internal (in the body cavity) and external (into the external environment). First aid for internal bleeding, as well as its diagnosis itself, is carried out exclusively by medical staff. External bleeding is easier to diagnose and can be treated by anyone.

Arterial bleeding occurs due to damage to the arterial trunks - the vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the cavities of the heart to all tissues of the body. Venous-type bleeding develops when the integrity of the veins that collect blood saturated with carbon dioxide and carry it to the heart is disrupted. Capillary bleeding occurs due to trauma to capillaries - small vessels that are directly involved in tissue gas exchange.

With arterial bleeding, the color of the flowing blood is bright red or scarlet, in contrast to venous bleeding, in which the blood is dark red and comes out slowly. In the case of arterial damage, blood is released rapidly, in a gushing stream. At the same time, the blood stream pulsates, each portion of it comes out synchronously with the pulse and heartbeat. This is due to high pressure in the arterial vessels that come directly from the heart.

In case of arterial bleeding, if help is not provided in time, the phenomena of hemorrhagic shock quickly increase - a pathological condition due to significant blood loss. It has the following symptoms:

• drop in blood pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• pallor and marbling of the skin;
• cyanosis of the extremities;
• respiratory disorders;
• decreased diuresis;
• severe weakness;
• dizziness;
• cold extremities;
• loss of consciousness.

Attention! The faster a person loses blood, the more pronounced the symptoms of shock are, since the body does not have time to compensate for the blood loss.

First aid

The most important role in emergency care for bleeding of arterial origin is played by the time factor: for maximum effectiveness it should be provided no later than 2-3 minutes from the moment of injury. If it concerns the main arterial trunks, then bleeding from them must be stopped no later than 1-2 minutes after the injury. Otherwise, the chances of a successful outcome will decrease every second with every milliliter of blood lost.

Important! No matter how critical the conditions, before helping others, protect yourself first - put on rubber gloves from your travel first aid kit, and if they are not available, minimize contact with blood using available items (for example, cellophane).

The algorithm for stopping any arterial bleeding is as follows:

1. Assessing the type of bleeding.
2. Finger pressure on an artery that is damaged.
3. Applying a tourniquet, applying maximum limb flexion or a pressure bandage.
4. Applying an aseptic dressing to the wound.

This sequence of actions may vary slightly depending on the characteristics of the damaged anatomical area.

Methods to stop bleeding can be temporary or permanent. Temporary arrest of arterial bleeding is used at the stage of first premedical and medical care. The final stage is carried out in a hospital and is part of the hospital stage of care. It is worth noting that in some cases, temporary stopping measures are enough to completely stop the bleeding.

Finger pressing

This technique should be used as a starting one when assisting a wounded person. The basic principles of digital compression depend on the anatomical region in which the artery injury occurred. The general rule is that the vessel should be pressed above the site of injury. But if bleeding occurs in the neck or head area, then the vessels are compressed downward from the wound. This is explained by the fact that the arteries in this area go upward from the heart.

Attention! When using any methods to stop bleeding, you need to lift the affected limb upward to reduce blood flow to it.

Damaged arterial vessels must be pressed against the bony protrusions, as they can slip out, and then bleeding will resume.

To better remember the method, you can use the 3D mnemonic rule:

• “Press.”
• "Ten".
• "Ten".

It means that you need to press the artery by pressing with ten fingers of both hands for 10 minutes, after which it is recommended to check whether the bleeding has stopped. If it is stopped, and this happens if it is not the main arterial vessel that is damaged, then you can limit yourself to applying a pressure aseptic dressing to the wound.

Since the blood pressure in the arteries is very high, it will take a lot of effort to apply pressure to the vessel and stop the bleeding. Finger pressure is a method of temporarily stopping bleeding, therefore, while one person is pressing the artery, the second should already be looking for a tourniquet and dressing material. There should be no time wasted taking off clothes or freeing limbs. At the same time, one of the eyewitnesses must immediately call an ambulance to provide first aid and transport the victim to a hospital.

The biggest disadvantages of the finger pressing technique are:

• significant pain for the injured person;
• physical fatigue of the person providing emergency assistance.

Speed ​​of execution is considered the most important advantage of temporarily stopping external arterial bleeding using finger pressure.

Maximum fixed limb flexion

In some cases, you can use maximum flexion of the limbs as a method of temporarily stopping bleeding from the artery. It should be performed after making sure that the victim does not have a fracture of the injured limb.

A thick pad should be placed at the bend of the limb (popliteal, elbow and groin areas) to compress the damaged artery at maximum flexion

After inserting the roller, the bent arm or leg is fixed to the patient’s body. Such actions are aimed at temporarily stopping bleeding, and if they are ineffective, one should prepare to apply an arterial tourniquet. This same technique, even when performed correctly, has questionable effectiveness.

Applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding

Stopping bleeding from an artery by applying a tourniquet is a temporary method of stopping bleeding. The task of everyone who helps the victim is to correctly perform the technique of applying a tourniquet and ensure the delivery of the wounded person to a medical facility.

A tourniquet should be applied only in case of severe arterial bleeding. In all other cases, you should try to stop the bleeding with digital compression or a pressure bandage. A pressure bandage is made in case of arterial bleeding from a whole roll of sterile bandage, which is tightly fixed to the wound surface.

If the rules for applying a tourniquet are violated, sad consequences may occur: necrosis, gangrene, damage to nerve trunks

This is especially true for the shoulder region, because the radial nerve is located superficially there. A tourniquet is applied to the middle third of the shoulder only as a last resort. It is better to choose a place higher or lower. One of the available means can be used as a tourniquet: a wide rope, a belt or a scarf.

Attention! A homemade tourniquet should not be too thin, as this can cause tissue necrosis.

So how to apply a tourniquet during arterial bleeding so as not to harm the patient in the future? By remembering a few basic rules, you can avoid a lot of mistakes.

The algorithm for applying a tourniquet is as follows:

1. Select a place to apply the tourniquet. It is located above the site of damage, but as close as possible to it (the optimal distance is 2-3 cm). We should not forget about injuries to the neck and head - there a tourniquet is used below the wound. If the femoral artery is damaged, it is compressed at the level of the middle third of the thigh, and if there is bleeding from the arm, it is compressed in the upper or lower third of the shoulder.
2. Wrap the selected area with cloth, gauze or bandage.
3. The limb should be in an elevated position.
4. The tourniquet is stretched and made several turns around the limb. In this case, its first turn is made with greater, and all subsequent turns with less effort. If large arterial trunks are damaged, for example, the femoral artery, it makes sense to apply two tourniquets - one higher, the other lower.
5. Its ends are tied into a knot or secured with a special chain or hook.
6. The correct application of the tourniquet is checked: pulsation of the injured artery below the injury is not palpable, and bleeding from the wound stops.
7. The exact time of application of the tourniquet is recorded. This can be done on a piece of paper, which is inserted under the tourniquet itself, directly on the patient’s body near the site of injury, or on clothing.
8. An aseptic bandage is applied to the wound.

In case of injuries to the carotid artery, the tourniquet is applied below the injury, but it should not compress the artery of the same name on the other side. To do this, a tight roller is applied on the side of the injury, and a tourniquet is fixed on the opposite side through the patient’s raised arm and an attached flat board.

Correct application of a tourniquet according to Mikulicz for injury to the carotid artery

The tourniquet should not be applied too tightly, since applying the tourniquet correctly means applying minimal pressure to stop the bleeding. In this case, the blood supply should be carried out through deep arteries and veins, and in no case should it stop completely.

If the tourniquet is applied too tightly, it can lead to necrosis of the limb, followed by amputation.

The time factor is also important here. The maximum time for applying a tourniquet varies depending on the ambient temperature:

• in summer - for 1 hour;
• in winter - for 30 minutes.

If a longer time interval is required to transport the victim to the nearest hospital, the tourniquet is temporarily removed, switching to 10 minutes of finger pressure. Then you need to apply a tourniquet again according to the rules described above.

In the absence of a special tourniquet, you can use an improvised twist tourniquet. To form it, you need to take a wide ribbon, scarf or piece of fabric and wrap it around the limb above the wound site. The fabric is then tied using a double knot. A small stick is inserted into the gap between the resulting nodes and twisted with rotational movements until the bleeding stops.

Do not use rope or wire for a twist cord.

The stick is fixed with a rope above the place where the tourniquet is applied to the limb, also with double knots. A note is placed under the tourniquet indicating the exact time of application of the twist.

Thus, due to the direct threat to life that occurs with arterial bleeding, you need to act very quickly. The briefly described first aid rules will help you not to panic and, in an extreme situation, save someone’s life.